Article carrier with gusset retainers

Abstract

An article carrier of the wraparound type formed from a single sheet of paperboard and having top, bottom, and side panels separated by fold lines and which includes article retaining gussets formed at the corners of the bottom and side panels, the gussets being held in place by the weight of the article. Each gusset is formed having three triangular sections separated from each other and the side and bottom panels by fold lines, with a first section adjacent the bottom panel being folded through 180° to lie flat on the bottom panel. The middle section is folded on top of the first section which causes the remaining section adjacent to the side panel to be erected in its retaining position. Articles contained within the carrier rest on the two folded sections to secure the retaining gussets and prevent movement of the articles.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In an article carrier of the type formed from a single sheet of foldable material and having a top panel, a pair of side panels, and a bottom panel and wherein said panels are separated by fold lines, the improvement comprising: gusset means, formed adjacent said fold lines separating said side and bottom panels, for retaining a plurality of articles disposed within said carrier, each said gusset means comprising:   first, second and third adjacent triangular gusset sections separated from each other and said bottom and side panels by fold lines;   said first section formed on said side panel adjacent said fold line separating said side and bottom panels;   said second section formed on said bottom panel adjacent said fold line separating said side and bottom panels and adjoining said first section;   the edges of said side panels and the outer edges of said first and second gusset sections forming substantially a straight line when said carrier is unerected to conserve the use of said foldable material;   said third section formed on said bottom panel and adjoining said second section;   said article carrier being characterized in that when said third gusset section is folded 180° along said fold line separating said third section from said bottom panel so as to lie on top of said bottom panel within said article carrier, and said second gusset section is folded on top of said third section, said first gusset section is automatically erected to act as a retainer for articles contained within said carrier.   
     
     
       2. The article carrier of claim 1 wherein articles contained within said carrier rest on said second and third gusset sections to securely hold said first gusset sections in an erected position. 
     
     
       3. The article carrier of either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said first gusset section is disposed at the bottom corners within the carrier but with the fold line between said first and second gusset sections extending at an acute angle outwardly with respect to the outer edge of said bottom panels in its erected position. 
     
     
       4. The article carrier of claims 1 or 2 wherein said first gusset section is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to said bottom and side panels when in its erected position. 
     
     
       5. The article carrier of claim 1 wherein the outer edge of each said gusset means is formed when unerected by two substantially straight, intersecting lines and the remainder at the periphery of said side and bottom panels and adjacent said fold lines separating said side and bottom panels.